WMOA night at the Whitecaps

Tuesday August 12

WMOA to Purchase AED for the Wes Leonard Heart Team

At a recent WMOA board meeting, the board was presented with an idea to raise money through various means to purchase and donate AED’s to the Wes Leonard Heart Team. Given the recent events of the death of Ryan Fischer, a hockey player from Grandville High School, Wes Leonard three years ago, as well two board members who have undergone open heart surgery within the last three years, we felt that this was a great opportunity for us as officials to give back to the student athlete in hopes to help prevent anyone from having to suffer a loss of a young athlete, coach, spectator, or fellow official.

The WMOA board has been in contact with members of the Wes Leonard Heart Team (http://www.wesleonardheartteam.org) and has been told that each AED costs $1,350 for the unit itself and the training to use it. Each AED that is purchased is donated to a school to insure that lives can be saved if a problem ever occurs. The WMOA board has decided that it will match up to $1,350 (one AED) in funds that are donated by our members of the WMOA.

If you wish to help contribute to this great cause, you can mail donations directly to Brad Brunet at the address below (checks payable to the WMOA) or donate directly to the WMOA via one of the PayPal Donate buttons.

Brad Brunet
5496 Lilly CT SW
Wyoming, MI 49509

Please consider making a donation no matter how big or small. Every dollar helps to purchase these AED’s. You never know, an AED might save your life one day!

Any questions about this project, please contact Brad Brunet at Bradley.brunet@gmail.com

HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR ALL STAR GAMES AT CORNERSTONE U.

New Presenting Sponsors D & W and Family Fare and Game Director Steve Project/Davenport U. and Pete Rusticus/Cornerstone U announce the 2014 High School All-Star basketball games for their Champions of Character “HOOPS HEAVEN” series. Top senior High School b-ballers from the Greater Grand Rapids area (OK Conferences), will be honored to play in front of their hometown fans one final time at Cornerstone University.

The 8th annual High School All-Star games will be on Wednesday, June 18 at Cornerstone Mol Arena … free parking and air conditioning! The All-Star game times include Women’s game at 6:00pm; Men’s game at 7:30pm. Nominations are being taken until May 11 – through MLive and steveproject@hotmail.com. Selection criteria includes 1) outstanding senior season, 2) great character, 3) continuing in a collegiate sport.

Tickets will be only $5.00 per person or $15 (flat fee) for families! A unique collaboration between rivals Cornerstone and Davenport athletic department personnel, the goal is to raise $5000-$7500 in support on the “Champions of Character Lecturing Initiative” to OK Conference schools, in which every player, coach, referee, parent, and spectator will commit back to the true spirit (fun) of competition through Respect, Integrity, Responsibility, Servant Leadership, and Sportsmanship. (We continue to have major problems in West Michigan with coaches, parents, and game officials that must continue to be addressed.)

Final All-Star Rosters will be released by May 30th.

For more information, contact Game Director Steve Project at steveproject@hotmail.com or call 616 262-7369.

VI Sports Day 2014

Pictures from the 2014 VI Sports Day are now available. Please take some time and view pictures from this incredible event hosted by the WMOA.

Click ‘Read More’ to view.

Tragic death of our fellow referee in SE Michigan

An unfortunate act of violence took the life of one of our fellow Michigan referees, you can read about ithere.

John Bieniewicz age 44 died at a Detroit Hospital on Tuesday, July 1. He was a registered soccer referee and was president of the Tri-County Soccer Referee Association. He leaves behind his wife and two sons.

The West Michigan Officials Association’s thoughts and prayers go out to John’s family and friends during this very difficult time.

WMOA will make a donation to the memorial fund established to assist John’s family. If you feel so inclined, you can find directions to donate by going to http://johnbieniewiczmemorial.com/

WMOA Donation to Wes Leonard Heart Team

At the annual WMOA banquet last night, Brad Brunet presented the Wes Leonard Heart Team with a check for over $4,000, which will help them purchase several AED’s to be placed in area schools. The money was raised over the past year through the extreme generosity of the WMOA membership. To all who contributed to this incredible and worthy cause, thank you!!!!

WMOA Charitable Giving – There is still so much more to do…

From Robert Atkinson – WMOA Secretary

At its April meeting your board of directors discussed and debated whether we should continue with the charitable fund raising efforts, and if so, where can we have the most impact. I’m going to be honest, I leaned on them pretty hard. But for the right reasons.

You may know that I died at an E. Kentwood boy’s, varsity basketball scrimmage in June of 2009. Because the school had an AED in the building, a nurse from the crowd commenced CPR and eventually shocked me back to life. I have already been saved and I want to make sure that under similar circumstances the same can be true for you.

Although the charities we discussed are certainly worthy causes, there is no charity that benefits you more than providing AEDs to every gym and field in West Michigan. We don’t want another Dan Nameth award, and I don’t want it to be you. Before we leave this charity, for our own sake, let’s accomplish the goal to fund AEDs for schools that still need them. And one often isn’t enough. E Kentwood now has 7. Death comes quickly if the AED isn’t easily accessible.

I don’t think there is anything wrong with self-interest. After all, it is our donation. Let’s set a goal to fund 3 more this year and little by little we can insure our own preservation while we help the kids enjoy their contests.

Thanks for your donation.

Wes Leonard Heart Team Golf Outing

Please check out the following links for information regarding the upcoming Wes Leonard Heart Team Golf Outing on June 27 @Diamond Springs in Hamilton, MI.